Memory cartridge and information processor unit using such cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge for a gaming machine includes a case having tapered surface formed along a side edge of the rear face thereof which cooperates with a protrusion in the cartridge receiving tray in the gaming machine main unit to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge into the machine. A character ROM, a first semiconductor memory storing a program for determining authenticity of the cartridge and a first microcomputer for executing that program are mounted on a printed circuit board accommodated in the case. The gaming machine includes a picture processing unit generating an image signal based on data from the character ROM, a second semiconductor memory which stores the same program for determining authenticity of the cartridge as the program in the first semiconductor memory, and a second microcomputer identical to the first microcomputer for executing the program stored in the second semiconductor memory. The second microcomputer determines authenticity of the loaded or inserted cartridge. Finally, a protrusion attached to the cartridge loading device in the machine cooperates with a recess in the cartridge case to prevent the loading of a counterfeit cartridge.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 914,011 filed Oct. 1,1986, now abandoned. This is also a continuation-in-part of applicationSer. No. 812,929, filed Dec. 23, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,635. Thisapplication is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.785,226 filed Oct. 7, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No. Des. 294,020 and is also acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 900,717, filed Aug. 27, 1986, nowU.S. Pat. No. 4,763,300. .Iadd.This is also a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 874,231, filed Jun. 13, 1986, now abandoned..Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cartridge for gaming machine and agaming machine using the same. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a memory cartridge incorporating a memory and an informationprocessing apparatus for operating as a game in accordance with aprogram stored in the cartridge memory.

2. Description of the Prior Art

For example, a ROM cartridge having a general or common shape andstructure is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,027.

Also, a gaming machine wherein a ROM cartridge is loaded in a gamingmachine main unit by so-called front loading is disclosed in the U.S.Pat. No. 4,095,791.

Any mechanism or structure which prevents a so-called reverse insertionand allows only an authentic cartridge to be used is not disclosed atall in either of the above-described prior art systems.

The prior art for preventing a reverse insertion discloses the use of aconnector for the cartridge which is shifted from the center of theopening of the cartridge.

In the case where the connector is shifted from the center in thedirection of length of the opening, an extra length is required in thedirection of length, and accordingly a problem of restrictingminiaturization of the cartridge occurs. Also, in the case where theconnector is shifted from the center in the direction of thickness ofthe connector, a built-in printed circuit board is biased up or down inthe direction of thickness of the cartridge, and therefore electroniccomponents can be mounted only on one face of the printed circuit board,and accordingly a problem of restricting the degree of integration ofthe printed circuit board occurs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide acartridge for a gaming machine having a novel shape or structure whichprevents an inverted insertion and allows only an authentic cartridge tobe used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machinewhich uses a novel cartridge for gaming machine.

One aspect of the present invention can be broadly summarized as acartridge for a gaming machine which comprises a case, a side surfaceincluding a keying surface cooperating with the front end loading devicein the gaming machine to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge,an opposing side surface having a configuration in cross section, whichwhen inverted is different from the corresponding cross sectional shapeof the other side surface, a printed circuit board accommodated in thecase, game information generating means for generating informationrequired for a game, and a data processing means mounted on the printedcircuit board for executing predetermined data processing to determineauthenticity of the cartridge.

A second aspect of the invention can also be summarized as a gamingmachine having a main unit adapted to receive a memory cartridge,wherein the cartridge includes a case, a side surface including a keyingsurface cooperating with a front end loading device in the gamingmachine to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge, an opposingside surface having a configuration in cross section, which wheninverted is different from the corresponding cross sectional shape ofthe other side surface, a printed circuit board accommodated in thecase, game information generating means mounted on the printed circuitboard for generating information for a game, a first semiconductormemory mounted on the printed circuit board for storing a program fordetermining authenticity of the cartridge, and first data processingmeans for executing the program stored in the first semiconductormemory, while the gaming machine main unit comprises a cartridgeinserting portion for receiving the cartridge, a contacting portionformed at the cartridge inserting portion and being able to contact thetapered portion when the cartridge is inserted, display signalgenerating means for generating a display signal for an image displayingmeans based on game information from the game information generatingmeans, a second semiconductor memory associated with the firstsemiconductor memory for storing a program for determining authenticityof the cartridge, and second data processing means having the sameperformance as that of the first data processing means for executing theprogram stored in the second semiconductor memory.

When the cartridge is normally inserted with the top surface thereoffacing upward, the keying surface formed on the side surface of the caseis inserted smoothly without any trouble. On the other hand, when thecase is inserted with the bottom surface thereof facing upward, that is,inserted upside down, the inverted keying surface interferes with thefront end loading device and prevents the insertion of the cartridge.Furthermore, the data processing means mounted on the printed circuitboard determines whether the cartridge is authentic or forged.

In accordance with the present invention, an inverted insertion of thecartridge can be prevented without shifting the connector of thecartridge from the center as in the prior art. Accordingly, inaccordance with the present invention, the cartridge can be made smallerand also an inverted insertion of the cartridge can be preventedeffectively without reducing the degree of integration of the built-inprinted circuit board. Also, in accordance with the present invention,the authenticity of the cartridge is verified by the data processingmeans. Accordingly, a determination as to whether the cartridge isauthentic or forged can be made by cooperative actions of the gamingmachine and the cartridge, and the use of any unauthorized cartridgescan be excluded.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, only the authenticcartridge can be used, and thereby copying or forging of programs(software) of the game information generating means in the cartridge orof the gaming machine itself can be prevented reliably, and protectionof software is performed more completely.

These objects and object objects, features, aspects and advantages ofthe present invention will become more apparent from the followingdetailed description of the embodiments of the present invention whentaken in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cartridge for agaming machine in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same as viewed from the rear facethereof.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one example of a gaming machinemain unit which can be used for a cartridge in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a front loading apparatus in thegaming machine main unit.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the front loading apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the front loading apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative cross-sectional view taken on line 7--7 inFIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing a locking mechanism.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative cross-sectional view showing an edgeconnector.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the whole system configurationincluding the cartridge and the gaming machine main unit.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a keymicroprocessor.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing operation in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing operations of the embodiment shown inFIG. 10 and FIG. 11.

.Iadd.FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment inaccordance with the present invention. .Iaddend.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a cartridge as viewed from the frontsurface thereof, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the same as viewedfrom the rear face thereof. A cartridge 10 includes a case 12, and thiscase 12 includes a lower half 14 and an upper half 16. A rectangularopening 18 is formed at the end of the case 12 in the direction ofinsertion thereof, and an edge 20a of a printed circuit boardaccommodated in the case 12 is exposed in that opening 18.

The cartridge 10 is inserted and loaded in a gaming machine main unit 42as described later (FIG. 3) in the direction as shown by an arrow inFIG. 1A with the upper half 16 facing upward. Then, in the vicinity ofthe end of the case 12 in the direction of insertion, stepped portions22 are formed at both side ends thereof. The case 12 is formed in amanner that the width of end portion in the direction of insertion ismade narrower and the width of rest behind the same is made wider bythese stepped portions 22. A configuration similar to these steppedportions 22 is disclosed, for example, as a "neck portion 25" as shownin FIG. 1 in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,879. However, in this embodiment aso-called front loading mechanism is adopted wherein the whole of thecartridge 10 is inserted into the gaming machine main unit 42 (FIG. 3),and therefore, unlike the one in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,879, thesestepped portions 22 do not define the portion of the cartridge to beexposed beyond the main unit, but act as stops for setting the insertionamount of the cartridge 10, that is, the case 12 to a constant value.

A concave or recess portion 24 is formed at the rear end of the upperhalf 16 of the case 12 in the direction of insertion, and a concave orrecess portion 26 is formed at the corresponding position of the lowerhalf 14. These concave portions 24 and 26 serve as gripping surfaces forthe fingers in taking the cartridge 10 out of the gaming machine mainunit 42 (FIG. 3).

The concave portion 26 of the lower half 14 also acts to inhibit thenormal loading of any cartridge other than an authentic one into thegaming machine main unit. More specifically, the concave portion 26 ofthe lower half 16 allows loading of only a specially shaped cartridgewherein a concave portion of a certain depth is formed at the positionof the concave portion 26 and prevents normal loading of any cartridgehaving a shape other than that in cooperation with a cylindricalprotrusion 144 as shown in FIG. 6 as described later. Meanwhile, in theillustration, to serve also as a pinch portion, the concave portion 26is formed so that the area thereof is considerably larger than the tipface of the cylindrical protrusion 144, but the concave portion 26 maybe formed in a small notched portion or hold just large enough to allowthis protrusion 144 to be inserted. In this case, whether or not thecartridge is adaptable can be distinguished by a positional relationshipor shape relationship between the cylindrical protrusion 144 and thenotched portion or hole.

As is well understood from FIG. 1B, keying surfaces 28 here provided bya chamfer having a certain inclination are formed at both side ends ofthe bottom face of the lower half 14. These keying portions 28 are forpreventing the so-called reverse insertion, i.e., attempted insertion ofthe cartridge 10 upside down. Then, edge portions having a shapedifferent from the keying surfaces 28 are formed at both sides of thetop face of the upper half 16. However, a surface having a differentinclination from that of the keying surface 28, such as an edge portionhaving a smaller radius than the tapered portion 28, or a simple cornerportion can be considered. Also, this keying surface 28 and the edgeportion corresponding thereto may be formed along only one side of thecase.

In reference to FIG. 2, inside the case 12 formed by the lower half 14and the upper half 16, a printed circuit board 20 is accommodated with apredetermined interval maintained by a spacer 42, and the edge portion20a of this printed circuit board 20 is exposed to the opening 18 of thecase 12. The edge portion 20a of the printed circuit board 20 ispositioned inward from the edge face of the opening 18 of the case 12 toprevent that portion from being damaged. On the edge portion 20a, aplurality of connecting electrodes 30 are connected to ROMs 32 and 34and a microprocessor 36 which are mounted across the width of theprinted circuit board 20. The printed circuit board 20 is fixed byinserting screws through a hole 38 formed on the printed circuit board20 and a hole 40 formed on the lower half 14.

In this embodiment, the ROM 32 functions as a program ROM for storing aprogram for a game, and the ROM 34 works as a character ROM forgenerating a character signal or data for the game. The microprocessor36 functions as data processing means for determining whether or not thegaming machine main unit 42 in which the cartridge 10 is loaded isauthentic and hence is allowed to be used. Accordingly, a determinationon whether or not the cartridge is authentic is executed by cooperativeactions of the microprocessor 36 and a microprocessor 202 of the gamingmachine main processor unit 42.

Cartridge 10 is inserted into the gaming machine main unit 24 as shownin FIG. 3. This main unit 42 includes a case 44, and a lid 46 issupported in a manner that permits opening or closing of the front endportion of the top face of this case 44. Then, in the case 44, a frontloading apparatus 62 is incorporated, which is described in detail laterin reference to FIG. 4 through FIG. 7.

Jacks 48 and 50 are provided on the front face of the case 44, andcontrollers 194a and 194b (FIG. 10), operated by the user are connectedthrough these jacks 48 and 50. Also, on the lower front face of the case44, a power switch 52, a light emitting diode 54 for indicating thepower switch position and a reset switch 56 are installed. Furthermore,on the right side of the case 44, an external terminal 58 for soundsignal and an external terminal 60 for video signal are installed, whichprovide signals to an image displaying apparatus, for example, a CRT 196(FIG. 10) from the main unit 42.

The front loading apparatus 62 includes a frame 66 fixed by screwsthrough spacers 64 in the case 44 (FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 7. As shownin FIG. 7, this frame 66 has a front wall 68 formed in the front thereofand side walls 70 and 72 formed at both sides thereof. These right andleft side walls 70 and 72 are connected to connecting portions 74 and 76at the end portions thereof in the direction of depth. Between theseconnecting portions 72 and 74, a slender opening 80 is formed so that anopening 170 of an edge connector 78 can be inserted in it.

In the vicinity of the end portions of the side walls 70 and 74 in thedirection of insertion of the cartridge 10, L-shaped stepped portions 82and 84 are formed. Also, brim portions 86 and 88 are formed on theoutside faces of the side walls 70 and 72, and mounting holes for fixingthis frame 66 to the case 44 are formed in these brim portions 86 and88.

On the outside faces of the side walls 70 and 72 cylindrical springshoes 90 and 92 as well understood from FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are formed. Infront of these spring shoes 90 and 92, that is, in the rear thereof inthe direction of insertion, engaging grooves 96 and 98 (FIG. 5) fordefining the rotation limits of a tray 94 (FIG. 7) as described laterare formed on the inner faces of the side walls 70 and 72. Theseengaging grooves 96 and 98 extend from the bottom ends of the side walls70 and 72 to a height of nearly two-thirds of the height of the walls.Then, in the vicinity of the stepped portions 82 and 84 of the sidewalls 70 and 72, shaft holes 100 for rotatably supporting the tray 94are formed respectively, and grooves 102 extending from the top endportions of the side walls 70 and 72 to these shaft holes 100 are formedto those positions.

In the frame 66, the tray 94 for holding the inserted cartridge issupported rotatably by a shaft inserted into the shaft holes 100. Thistray 94 includes a bottom plate 104 and side walls 106 and 108 formed atboth sides of this bottom plate 104. Protruding bars 110 and 112 havinga triangular cross-section are fixed to the junction corner portionsformed by the bottom plate 104 and the side walls 106 and 108. Theinclination of these protruding bars 110 and 112 with respect to thebottom plate 104 corresponds to the inclination of the keying surfaces28 of the cartridge 10 (FIG. 1B) as described above. Accordingly, thefaces of these protruding bars 110 and 112 work as contacting faces withthe keying surfaces 28. This means that an inverted insertion of thecartridge 10 is prevented by the keying surfaces 28 and the protrudingbars 110 and 112.

On the top surface of the bottom plate 104 of the tray 94, rails 114 and116 having a rectangular or circular arc in cross-section are disposedin the vicinity of the side end portion extendingly in the direction ofinsertion of the cartridge 10. These rails prevent the surface of thelower half 14 from being brought in face-contact with the bottom plate104, thereby serving to reduce the contact resistance. Also, these railsact as reinforcing members of the bottom plate 104.

Stepped portions 118 and 120 corresponding to the stepped portions 82and 84 of the frame 66 are formed in the side walls 106 and 108. Thesestepped portions 118 and 120 engage with the stepped portions 22 of thecartridge 10, working to define the amount of insertion of the cartridge10 at a constant value.

As well understood from FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, inwardly protruding pieces122, 124, 126, and 128 are formed at the top ends of the side walls 106and 108 of the tray 94. The interval between the bottom end faces ofthese protruding pieces 122-128 and the top end faces of the rails 114and 116 is selected equal to or a little larger than the thickness ofthe case 12 of the cartridge 10. Accordingly, the cartridge 10 isinserted between the rails 114 and 116 and the protruding pieced122-128. The protruding pieces 122-128 cause the cartridge 10 to movewith the tray when it is rotated downward.

A reinforcing plate 130 composed of metal or the like is mounted on apair of protruding pieces 122 and 124 at the rear end side in thedirection of insertion of the cartridge 10. This reinforcing plate 130prevents the bottom plate 104 from warping, and also acts to preventdownward rotation of the tray unless the cartridge is fully inserted.

Furthermore, because the reinforcing plate 130 is composed of aconductive material and connected to frame 66, it acts also as means forpreventing electric interference of the cartridge by discharging chargeson the case 12. More specifically, when the cartridge 10 is insertedinto the tray 94, the surface of the upper half 16 of the case 12 isbrought in contact with the reinforcing plate 130. Then, charges on thecase 12 are discharged to the electric potential of the frame 66, thatis, ground potential through the reinforcing plate 130. Accordingly,electric bombardment to the electronic components 32, 34, 36 and thelike mounted on the printed circuit board 20 of the case 12 isprevented, and these electronic components 32, 34, 36 and the like areprotected effectively from electrostatic electricity.

On the top portions of the side walls 106 and 108 of the tray 94, springstopping pieces 132 and 134 are formed in an outward-protruding fashionat the positions of the spring shoes 90 and 92 installed on the sidewalls of the frame 66. Coil springs 136 are held between these springstopping pieces 132 and 134 and the spring shoes 90 and 92,respectively. The tray 94 is rotatably mounted to a shaft (notillustrated) passing through holes 100 and biased upwardly by these coilsprings 136. Then, engaging protrusions 138 (FIG. 7) for defining theupper limit of the upward rotation by the springs 136 of the tray 94 areformed on the outside faces of the side walls 106 and 108 facing theengaging grooves 96 and 98.

A stepped portion 140 is formed at the front end of the bottom plate 104and a hole 146 is formed in this stepped portion 140. Inside the frontwall 68 of the frame 66, a holding plate 142 is formed beneath portion140. A cylindrical protrusion 144 extends upward from plate 142. Theouter diameter of the cylindrical protrusion 144 is a little smallerthan the inner diameter of hole 146, and the height thereof protrudesbeyond the top surface of the bottom plate 104 by a length equivalent tothe depth of the concave portion 26 of the cartridge (FIG. 1B). Inaddition, the cylindrical protrusion 144 is positioned such that whenthe cartridge 10 is inserted into the tray 94, and the tray 94 isrotated downward into the operating position, the top end of thecylindrical protrusion 144 contacts the bottom of portion 26. Thereby,the normal loading of the cartridge 10 is made possible.

If any cartridge not having the concave portion 26 is inserted, the topend of the cylindrical protrusion 144 will contact the rear face of thecartridge when the tray is rotated downward, preventing loading of thecartridge. Thus, the cylindrical protrusion 144 acts to inhibit loadingof any cartridge other than the one having a concave portionsubstantially identical to concave portion 26.

Furthermore, a locking mechanism 148 is installed in association withthe front wall 68 of the frame 66 and the stepped portion 140 of thebottom plate 104 of the tray 94. This locking mechanism 148, as shown inFIG. 7, includes a key mechanism 150 which is provided on the front wall68 and is equivalent to a key. It also includes a cam mechanism 152 forlocking which is provided under the stepped portion 140 and isequivalent to a lock. As shown in FIG. 7, the key mechanism 150 includesan engaging groove 154 formed on rear side of the front wall 68, and aplate spring 156 is fixed to this engaging groove 154. A U-shaped hookpin 158 is forced into contact with the cam mechanism 152 by the platespring 156, and further a holder 159 fixes the top end of the hook pin158 and supports the bottom end thereof in a manner capable of swinging.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cam mechanism 152 includes a heart-shaped groove160 which is a little wider than the thickness of the above-describedhook pin 158. An engaging protrusion 162 is formed by an island portionsurrounded by this heart-shaped groove 160, and a groove 164 extendingdownward from the bottom end of the heart-shaped groove 160 is formed,and a trumpet-shaped groove 166 is formed further under the groove 164.

In loading the cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is inserted into the tray94, and thereafter this tray 94 is pressed down against the spring forceof the coil springs 136 (FIG. 4). At this time, since the top end of thehook pin 158 is fixedly supported by the holder 149, the cam mechanism152 is guided by the bottom end of the hook pin 158 and thetrumpet-shaped groove 166, the groove 164 and the heart-shaped groove160 at the right side of the engaging protrusion 162. Accordingly, thebottom end of the hook pin 158 is brought to the position shown by apoint p1 in FIG. 8. The dash-dot line in FIG. 8 represents the pathfollowed by the bottom end of the hook pin 158 in the heart-shapedgroove 160. Thereafter, if the downward force against the tray 94 isrelaxed, this tray 94 is restored upwardly by the elastic force of thecoil springs 136 (FIG. 4). Then, the bottom end of the hook pin 158engages with the U-shaped concave portion at the upper side of theengaging protrusion 162; that is, the portion as shown by a point p2 inFIG. 8. Thereby the tray 94 is retained in the locked state.

On the other hand, when the cartridge 10 is to be removed, the tray 94is pressed downward again. When the bottom end of the hook pin 158reaches point p3, the downward force against the tray 94 is relaxed andthe bottom end of the hook pin 158 moves along the heart-shaped groove160 at the left side of the engaging protrusions 162, the groove 164 andthe trumpet-shaped groove 166, to the bottom end of this trumped-shapedgroove 166. That is, the bottom end of the hook pin 158 moves so as todepict a locus as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 8, and the locked stateof the tray 94 is released.

As described above, the cam system locking mechanism 148 of thisembodiment first locks the tray 94 at the position of the frame 66 bypressing down the tray 94, and this locking is released by a secondpressing, and therefore it is not required to install an additionalejecting mechanism. Accordingly, the configuration of the lockingmechanism 148 of the tray 94 can be simplified and miniaturized.Obviously, the configuration may be made in a manner that such a lockingmechanism is constituted with a lever or the like, and locking by thislever can be released in interlocking with an operation of an ejectbutton (not illustrated).

As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 170 of the edge connector 78 is engagedwith the opening 80 at the front end of the frame 66 in the direction ofinsertion of the cartridge 10. Case 168 of edge connector 78 has aU-shaped cross section and two vertically spaced openings 170 and 172.The edge portions of printed circuit board 20 and a printed circuitboard 182 are inserted into these openings 170 and 172, respectively.

To be further detailed, as shown in FIG. 9, the front end of the upperportion of the case 168 protrudes forward beyond the front end of thelower portion thereof, and accordingly the opening 170 is positionedforward beyond the opening 172. Then, the printed circuit board 20 ofthe cartridge 10 is inserted obliquely into the opening 170. In order toaccommodate the circuit boards, upper opening 170 is oriented in thedirection of insertion of board 20 whereas lower opening 172 is orientedhorizontally as shown.

A number of pairs of spring electrodes 178 and 180 are accommodated inthe case 168 and these pairs are uniformly spaced in the direction ofwidth of the edge connector 78. To locate the spring electrodes 178 and180 in the case, grooves or partitions may be formed on the inner faceof the case 168. The respective lower open ends of the spring electrodes178 and 180 are bent in a V-shape, being formed as contacting portions178b and 180b which are faced each other.

The upper open end of the spring electrode 178 is bent in a V-shape toform the contacting portion 178a, and the upper open end of the springelectrode 180 is bent outward in a V-shape in the vicinity of theopening 170 and further the tip is bent back in a V-shape, and therebythe contacting portion 180a is formed. The contacting portion 180a andthe contacting portion 178a are positioned so as to be spaced from eachother in the direction of insertion of the cartridge 10, and when viewedin the direction of insertion of the cartridge 10 (from obliquelyabove), an interval nearly equal to or a little larger than thethickness of the printed circuit board 20 is kept between them. Then, astopper protrusion 184 for defining the insertion depth of the printedcircuit board 20 is formed under the contacting portion 178a.

In order to load the cartridge it is inserted in the tray until the tipportion 20a (FIG. 2) of the printd circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10strikes against the stopper protrusion 184. Next the tray and cartridgeare rotated downward, pressing circuit board 20 against contact portion180a which acts as a fulcrum to the position where the printed circuitboard 20 becomes parallel with the printed circuit board 182. Therebythe printed circuit board 20 can be loaded easily.

When a game is played using the gaming machine main unit 42 (FIG. 3),first the external terminal 58 for sound and the external terminal 60for video are connected to the CRT 196 (FIG. 10) such as a home TV set.Thereafter, the lid 46 is opened, and the cartridge 10 is inserted intothe tray 94 so that the lower half 14 thereof becomes the down side(FIG. 7). At this time, the stepped portions 22 of the cartridge 20engage with the stepped portions 118 and 120 of the tray 94, and theamount of insertion of the cartridge 10 is defined. Then, the upperopening 170 of the case 168 of the edge connector 78, that is, the wholeof the upper open end 168a fits into the opening 18 (FIG. 1A) of thecase 12 of the cartridge 10. In this state, as shown in FIG. 9, theprinted circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 has an inclination of about10 degrees to printed circuit board 182 of the gaming machine main unit42. In that position the spring electrodes 178 are not in perfectcontact with the contacts 30 of the printed circuit board 20.

Subsequently, the cartridge 10 and the tray 94 are pressed downward fromabove. When an authentic cartridge is inserted, and the tray 94 ispressed downward, and the locking mechanism 148 locks the tray 94 whileholding the same in the horizontal state. Accordingly, the conductivepatterns of the printed circuit board 20 are brought into firmelectrical contact with the corresponding spring electrodes 178 and 180in the upper opening 170 of the edge connector 78. Thereafter, the lid46 (FIG. 3) is closed and the game can be played using the controllers194a and 194b (FIG. 10).

If any cartridge not having a concave portion analogous to concaveportion 26 (FIG. 1B) is inserted into the tray 94, the tray 94 cannot bepressed down because the cylindrical protrusion 144 (FIG. 6) strikes therear face of the cartridge.

In reference to FIG. 10, the controllers 194a and 194b are connected tothe gaming machine main unit 42 through the jacks 48 and 50 and the CRT196 is connected through the external terminals 58 and 60 (FIG. 3).Also, the printed circuit board 182 connected by contacting portions178b and 180b of the above-described edge connector 78 is accommodatedin the gaming machine main unit 42. A game microprocessor 198 is mountedon the printed circuit board 182, and the above-described controllers194a and 194b and the CRT 196 are connected to this microprocessor 198through an I/O interface 206. A PPU (picture processing unit) 200, amicroprocessor 202 for determining authenticity and a clock oscillator204 are further connected to the printed circuit board 182. The PPU 200is composed, for example, of the IC "2C03" manufactured by Nintendo andoutputs image information processed by the microprocessor 198 as a videosignal for the CRT 196.

The microprocessor 202 for determining authenticity preferably iscomposed of a four-bit microprocessor like the microprocessor fordetermining authenticity 36 mounted on the printed circuit board 20 ofthe cartridge 10. The reset switch 56 is connected to the microprocessor202. A reset condenser 56a is further connected to the reset terminal ofthe microprocessor 202 in parallel with the reset switch 56. This resetcondenser 56a is charged when the power switch 52 (FIG. 3) is turned on,thereby performing so-called initial reset (power on clear) that holdsthe microprocessor 202 in the reset state for a predetermined time.

As described above, the ROM 32 for storing a program and the ROM 34 forgenerating character information are mounted on the printed circuitboard 20 of the cartridge 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the printedcircuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 and printed circuit board 182 ofthe gaming machine main unit 42 are connected electrically by the edgeconnector 78. Then, a clock signal from the clock oscillator 204 isgiven also to the microprocessor for determining authenticity 36 mountedon the printed circuit board 20 of the cartridge 10 through the edgeconnector 78; that is, the contacting portions 178b, 180b, 178a and180a.

Next further detailed description is made of the microprocessor 36 fordetermining authenticity in reference to FIG. 11. In addition, themicroprocessor 202 of the gaming machine main unit side is of a similarconfiguration, and therefore in FIG. 11, reference symbols relatingthereto are shown in parentheses, and duplicate description is omittedhere.

As described above, the microprocessors 36 and 202 determine whether thecartridge 10 is authentic or forged in cooperation with each other. Thefunctions of these two microprocessors 36 and 202 can be compared to therelation between a key and a lock. Accordingly, in the followingdescription, the microprocessor 36 is referred to as the keymicroprocessor and the microprocessor 202 is referred to as the lockmicroprocessor.

As shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined terminal of the lock microprocessor202 is grounded, while a predetermined terminal of the keymicroprocessor 36 is connected to a power source Vcc. Thereby, themicroprocessors 36 and 202 can determine whether they themselvesfunction as a key or a lock.

In the key microprocessor 36 and the lock microprocessor 202,corresponding terminals I, O and R are connected respectively throughthe edge connector 78 to give and receive data therebetween. Also, asdescribed above, a clock signal CLK from the common clock oscillator 204is given to these two microprocessors 36 and 202. The microprocessors 36and 202 operate in the state that respective operation periods andphases are perfectly synchronized.

In reference to FIG. 11, the key microprocessor 36 is preferably offour-bit configuration and this microprocessor 36 comprises a CPU 36a asdata processing means, a ROM 36b as a semiconductor memory, and a RAM36c for storing various data required for data processing of the CPU36a. The ROM 36b stores operation programs of the CPU 36a, and theseoperation programs comprise two arithmetic operation programs. One ofthe arithmetic operation programs contains a plurality of kinds ofarithmetic operation formulas and data of random numbers for arithmeticoperation. Also, the operation programs contains a determining programfor comparing and checking the result of operation of the otherarithmetic operation program against that of the lock microprocessor 202and a determining program of one arithmetic operation against that ofthe key microprocessor 36. When these determining programs are executed,the CPU 36a functions as determining means.

Furthermore, the operation programs contain a controlling program forcontrolling the reset or release of reset state of the gaming machinemain unit 42 based on the result of determination by the above-describeddetermining program.

An accumulator 36d is connected to the CPU 36a. On the other hand, aregister 36e is connected to the ROM 36b. The register 36e is fortemporary storing the program data accessed from the ROM 36b. The CPU36a, the accumulator 36d and the register 36e are connected by a databus 36h. This data bus 36h is connected to an I/O port 36g. Through thisI/O port 36g, data is outputted to the lock microprocessor 202, and datafrom that microprocessor 202 is received.

Furthermore, in the key microprocessor 36, a frequency divider 36f forreceiving the clock signal CLK from the clock oscillator 204 (FIG. 10)and for frequency dividing the same is installed, and the frequencydividing ratio of the frequency divider 36f is selected, for example, atone-fourth.

Next, brief description is made on operation of the frequency divider36f in reference to a timing chart in FIG. 12. As described above, thefrequency divider 36f makes a 1/4 frequency-division of the clock signalCLK from the clock oscillator 204. Accordingly, four signals havingdifferent phases o1, o2, o3 and o4 are obtained from the frequencydivider 36f. These signals o1-o4 are given to the CPU 36a. The CPU 36aperforms predetermined sequential operations synchronized with thesefour signals o1-o4. For example, it reads data from the I/O port 36gsynchronized with the signal o1, performs a predetermined arithmeticoperation processing (data processing) synchronized with the signals o2and o3, and outputs data from the I/O port 36g synchronized with thefinal signal o4.

In addition, these signals o1-o4 are given also to the lockmicroprocessor 202, and accordingly the two microprocessors 36 and 202operate in perfect synchronization. The architectures and the numbers ofsteps of the operation programs are the same as are the clock signalsand hardware, so respective machine cycles coincide completely.

In reference to FIG. 13, after the cartridge 10 is loaded in the gamingmachine main unit 42, and the main unit power switch 52 or the resetswitch 56 is turned on, a reset operation of the lock microprocessor 202is performed. In step S10, lock microprocessor 202 starts to operate.

In the following step S11, the lock microprocessor 202 determineswhether it is to function as a lock or to function as a key. Asexplained with reference to FIG. 10, this determination is made bydetermining whether the predetermined terminal is grounded or connectedto the power source. In this case, the microprocessor lock 202 shoulddetermine that it is to function as a lock. If it determines that it isto function as a key, for example, due to wrong wiring, malfunction orthe like, it is put in the unstable state, not performing any operation.

When "YES" is determined in step S11, in step S12, to the lockmicroprocessor 202 resets each circuit so that the gaming machine mainunit 42 does not execute the game program, and this reset state iscontinued. More specifically, the CPU 198 and the PPU 200 (FIG. 10) areplaced in the reset state and disabled until the reset is released instep S21 as described later. Also, in this step S12, the keymicroprocessor 36 is reset.

In the following step S13, the lock microprocessor 202 releases thereset of the key microprocessor 36, and synchronizes the twomicroprocessors 36 and 202. More specifically, the machine cycle of thelock microprocessor 202 is set so that the reset signal given to the keymicroprocessor 36 from the lock microprocessor 202 is outputted betweena signal of a specific period of the clock signal CLK, for example, o4and the signal o1 of the next period. Consequently, the keymicroprocessor 36 is sure to start operation with that signal o1.Accordingly, the key microprocessor 36 starts operation with the samemachine cycle as that of the lock microprocessor 202. Thereby, the twomicroprocessors 36 and 202 are synchronized, and thereafter therespective microprocessors perform operations in a perfectlysynchronized state.

When the reset of the key microprocessor 36 is released in step S13, thekey microprocessor 36 determines whether it is to function as a lock ora key in the next step S11'. In this step S11' a determination is madewhether the terminal of the key microprocessor 36 is grounded orconnected to the power source similar to the above-describeddetermination made in step S11. When "NO" is determined in the stepS11', an unstable state takes place and no operations are performed atall. When "YES" is determined in step S11', operations in step S14' andfollowing steps are executed.

On the other hand, the lock microprocessor 202 executes step S13 andthereafter executes operations in step S14 and following steps.Thereafter, in the lock microprocessor 202 and the key microprocessor36, the same operations can be performed in synchronization, that is, incoincidence in the time axis.

First, in step S14'; the lock microprocessor 202 and the keymicroprocessor 36 output ciphered codes in a random number fashion fromrespective program ROMs 202b and 36b (FIG. 11) (steps S14 and S14').These outputs of ciphered codes are performed using the same randomfunction. Then, conditions given to the random function are the same forthe two microprocessors 36 and 202. Accordingly, when the cartridge isauthentic, the ciphered codes generated in the key microprocessor 36become identical.

Next, in steps S15 and S15', the lock microprocessor 202 and the keymicroprocessor 36 exchange data and receive the ciphered codes generatedby the counterportion, respectively. Then, in steps S16 and S16', theboth perform predetermined data processings based on the ciphered codesinputted from the counterportions. Arithmetic operation formulas usedfor these arithmetic operation processings are identical in the twomicroprocessor 36 and 202, and therefore when the inputted cipheredcodes are the same, the results of these arithmetic operation areidentical. Then, in steps S17 and S17', the lock microprocessor 202 andthe key microprocessor 36 send the result of arithmetic operation to thecounterportion, respectively. Responsively, in steps S18 and S18', thetwo microprocessors 36 and 202 receive the result of arithmeticoperation inputted from the counterportion, respectively. Here, sincethe key microprocessor 36 and the lock microprocessor 202 perform thesame operation at the same timing, the results of arithmetic operationsinputted from the counterportion are to be inputted at the same timing.Accordingly, in this embodiment, not only coincidence in the result ofarithmetic operation but also coincidence in the time axis are takeninto consideration to determine whether or not the cartridge isauthentic.

Next, in step S18, the lock microprocessor 202 compares and checks theresult of arithmetic operation done by itself against the result orarithmetic operation given from the key microprocessor 36, determiningwhether or not both coincide with each other. As a result of this check,if "NO" is determined, the lock microprocessor 202 holds the reset stateof each circuit in the gaming machine main unit 42, namely, the CPU 198,the PPU 200 and the like in the next step S20. Thereby, the gamingmachine main unit 42 is inhibited to execute the game program.

In addition, in place of such a holding of the reset state, an alarm maybe raised in response to a determination of noncoincidence, orprocessing may be returned to the initial state, namely, step S11.

As a result of checking in step S19, if "YES" is determined, the lockmicroprocessor 202 releases the reset state of these circuits, that is,the CPU 198, the PPU 200 and the like in the next step S21.

Subsequently, in step S21, the lock microprocessor 202 generates twosets of random numbers based on a predetermined random function. Then,in step S23, the lock microprocessor 202 selects the kind of arithmeticoperation formula by the second set of random numbers, and uses the twosets of random numbers as values to be substituted into the selectedarithmetic operation formula. More specifically, in this embodiment, n(a positive integer) kinds of arithmetic operation formulas are set inadvance as the second arithmetic operation processing (data processing)in the arithmetic operation program and an arithmetic operation formulais selected from among them in response to the second data of randomnumbers. Next, in step S24, arithmetic operation by the two sets ofrandom numbers is executed based on the selected arithmetic operationformula. These operations in steps S19-S24 are performed also in the keymicroprocessor 36 in the same manner at quite the same timing. Then, therandom function for generating the two sets of random numbers employedhere is also the same as that employed in the lock microprocessor 202.Then, conditions given to the random function for generating the twosets of random numbers are quite the same for the lock microprocessor202 and the key microprocessor 36. Accordingly, if the cartridge 10 iscompatible with the main unit 42, the same arithmetic operation formulais selected, and the results of the arithmetic operation also be thesame.

Next, in step S25, the lock microprocessor 202 gives the result ofarithmetic operation performed in step S24 to the key microprocessor 36,and receives the result of arithmetic operation by the keymicroprocessor 36. The same operation is performed also in the keymicroprocessor 36.

Next, in step S26, the lock microprocessor 202 compares and checks theresult of arithmetic operation by itself against the result of thearithmetic operation received from the key microprocessor 36, anddetermines whether or not they both coincide.

If the cartridge 10 loaded in the gaming machine main unit 42 is notauthentic, the result of arithmetic operation by the both do notcoincide, and therefore the lock microprocessor 202 forcedly puts theCPU 198, and PPU 200 and the like in the reset state so as to stop thefollowing operations in step S27.

On the other hand, in the lock microprocessor 202, when the result ofarithmetic operation by itself and the result of arithmetic operationreceived from the key microprocessor 36 coincide, processing returnsagain to step S22, thereafter repeating the operation in steps S22-S26.This means that, in this embodiment, the second arithmetic operationprogram is executed as long as the gaming machine main unit 42 operates,but if a noncoincidence takes place even once during operations, thestep S27 is executed, and operations of the CPU 198 and the PPO 200 arestopped. Thereby, execution of the game program in the main unit 42 isinhibited.

Meanwhile, the same operations as in step S26 and S27 are performed alsoin the key microprocessor 36. However, the key microprocessor 36 has noeffect on reset and release of reset of each circuit of the gamingmachine main unit 42.

Also, for the operation of the key microprocessor 36, because terminalsfor chip selection are installed normally in the ROMs 32 and 34, it isalso possible that these terminals are disabled and thereby themicroprocessor 198 and the PPU 200 of the gaming machine main unit 42side are made inaccessible.

Although a sufficient determination of authenticity can be made bychecking the result of the first arithmetic operation in step S19, inthe above-described embodiment, the second arithmetic operation andchecking of the result thereof are further performed in steps S22-S26continuously as long as the gaming machine main unit 42 operates.Therefore the determination of whether or not the cartridge 10 isauthentic can be made with a high degree of certainty. Accordingly, whenany cartridge which copies the ROMs 32 and 34 in the cartridge 10 orcomprises ROMs storing programs similar thereto is used, such aprotection for software cannot be broken unless hardware identical tothe key microprocessor 36 is obtained. Also, by using custom ICs as thekey microprocessor 36 and the lock microprocessor 202, such a protectioncan be made more completely.

Thus, with the cooperation of microprocessor 36 in the cartridge andmicroprocessor 202 in the gaming machine main unit 42, the software ofthe cartridge 10 can be protected completely. Accordingly use of anycartridge other than an authentic one is prevented.

In accordance with the present invention, by means of a peculiar shapeof the cartridge 10 and by the data processing means accommodated in thecartridge 10, whether or not the cartridge is authentic can bedetermined perfectly, and thereby use of any cartridge other than theauthentic one can be excluded.

In addition, the cartridge 10 in accordance with the present inventionmay be used with other gaming machines having an inserting port adaptedto receive the cartridge where the cartridge is inserted from the upperportion of the main unit.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment inaccordance with the present invention. The cartridge 10' of theembodiment is modified in some respects from the embodiment shown inFIG. 1A through FIG. 2 to facilitate manufacture. More specifically, inthe opening 18 of the upper half 16, a partitioning plate 210 having anotched portion 208 is formed. Also, near both sides of the partitioningplates 210, there are formed protrusions 212 and 214 for positioning.These positioning protrusions 212 and 214 are formed in an L-shape orstep-shape correspondingly to the form of the both sides of the printedcircuit board 20. The form and the position of the right and left sidesof the positioning protrusions 212 and 214 are different from eachother, thereby preventing the mounting of printed circuit board 20 inreverse in the case 12.

Meanwhile, instead of the single printed circuit board unit 20, aprinted circuit board unit 20' may be used. Board unit 20' includes afirst printed circuit board 215, a second printed circuit board 218 anda double edge connector 220 for interconnecting the both printed circuitboard 216 and 218. The reason why such printed circuit board unit 20' isused is to make the printed circuit board 218 having no keymicroprocessor 36 applicable to the gaming machine main unit 42 of theembodiment shown. It will provide a cartridge 10' usable with printedcircuit board 218 for another kind of game and having the number ofconnecting electrodes different from that of the edge connector 78. Inthis case, the number of the connecting electrodes formed on the tip 20aof the first printed circuit board 216 is selected equal to the numberof the connecting electrodes of the printed circuit board 20 of theabove described embodiment. Also the number of the connecting electrodesformed at the rear end of the first printed circuit board 216 isselected equal to the number of the connecting electrodes of the secondcircuit board 218. Further the key microprocessor 36 is mounted on thefirst printed circuit board 216. Then, the rear end of the first printedcircuit board 216 is inserted into one insertion part of the double edgeconnector 220 and, the second printed circuit board 218 is inserted intothe other insertion part of the double edge connector 220.

At the both right and left sides of the double edge connector 220, amounting piece 224 having a mounting hole is formed. The ROMs 32 and 34are mounted on the second printed circuit board 218. In the center ofthe second printed circuit board 218, a hole 226 is formed and, a hold228 is formed at the position shifted from the hole 226.

On the other hand, in the case where the printed circuit board unit 20'is used, mounting posts 230 and 232 having threaded holes therein andpositioning post 234 are formed on the upper half 16. On an outerperiphery of the mounting post 232, a fin-shaped protrusion 236 isformed below the position corresponding to the thickness of the secondprinted circuit board 218. Therefore, the mounting of printed circuitboard unit 20' is facilitated and a reverse mounting of the board isprevented. Further, by such structure, it is possible to secure stablythe printed circuit board unit 20' to the case 12.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated indetail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustrationand example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the spiritand scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:a mainunit; a frame structure mounted to the main unit; a cartridge trayhaving a first end pivotally mounted to said frame structure forrotation of a second end within a predetermined angular range between acartridge loading and a cartridge operating position, said cartridgetray including a bottom plate, a side wall, and a cartridge keyingstructure extending between the bottom plate and the side wall; meansbiasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position; means forreleasably locking the tray in the operating position; connector meansfixedly mounted in said main unit at said first end of said cartridgetray such that said cartridge tray rotates relative to said connectormeans; and a memory cartridge configured to be slideably inserted intothe second end of said cartridge tray in a direction parallel to thebottom plate of said tray when said tray is in said loading position andto engage said connector means at the first end of said tray, saidmemory cartridge including a case having top and bottom surfaces and aside surface intersecting said top surface, and said memory cartridgefurther having a keyed surface intersecting the side and bottom surfacesand cooperating with said keying structure to prevent an invertedinsertion of the cartridge in said cartridge tray.
 2. The electronicgaming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cartridge keying structure ofsaid cartridge tray includes a bar having a substantially planar keyingsurface which intersects the bottom plate at a predetermined angle. 3.The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 2 wherein the keyed surface ofsaid memory cartridge case includes a substantially planar chamferedsurface which intersects the bottom surface at said predetermined angle.4. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 3, wherein said keyingsurface of said bar is disposed along a side of said tray so as toslideably engage, along its length, the keyed surface of said memorycartridge case when said memory cartridge is slideably inserted.
 5. Anelectronic gaming apparatus comprising:a main unit; a frame structuremounted on the main unit; a cartridge tray pivotally mounted to saidframe structure for rotation within a predetermined angular rangebetween a loading and an operating position; means biasing saidcartridge tray toward the loading position; means for releasably lockingsaid cartridge tray in the operating position; a memory cartridgeadapted to be slideably inserted into said cartridge tray when in itsloading position, said memory cartridge including a case having a bottomsurface, said bottom surface having a recess therein; and, securitymeans for preventing the use of an unauthorized cartridge in said mainunit, said security means including a protrusion extending upward fromsaid frame member and positioned such that as the cartridge tray isrotated toward the operating position, the protrusion enters the recesson said bottom surface of said cartridge case and allows said cartridgeand cartridge tray to assume the operating position.
 6. The electronicgaming apparatus of claim 5, wherein said recess in said bottom surfaceof said cartridge case is arranged and sized to form a manuallygrippable end portion for facilitating cartridge insertion and removal.7. An electronic gaming apparatus comprising:a main control unit; aframe structure mounted to the main control unit; a cartridge traypivotally mounted to said frame structure for rotation within apredetermined angular range between a loading and an operating position;means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position; means forreleasably locking said cartridge tray in the operating position; amemory cartridge for operation with said main control unit and beingadapted to be slideably inserted into said cartridge tray when in itsloading position, said memory cartridge including a case having a bottomsurface, said bottom surface having a recess therein; andsecurity meansfor preventing the use of an unauthorized cartridge in said main controlunit, said security means including a protrusion extending upward fromsaid frame member and positioned such that as said cartridge tray isrotated toward the operating position, the protrusion enters said recesson said cartridge and allows said cartridge tray to assume the operatingposition, said security means further including substantially identicalfirst and second data processing devices mounted in said memorycartridge and said main control unit, respectively, for executing thesame predetermined authenticating program to determine authenticity ofsaid cartridge, and control means responsive to at least one of saidfirst and second data processing devices for disabling operation of saidmain control unit in accordance with the execution of saidauthenticating program.
 8. The electronic gaming apparatus of claim 7,wherein said memory cartridge comprises at least one ROM memory devicemounted within said case along with said first data processing devicefor storing said predetermined authenticating program.
 9. An electronicgaming apparatus comprising:a main control unit; a frame structuremounted to the main control unit; a cartridge tray having a first endpivotally mounted to said frame structure for rotation of a second endwithin a predetermined angular range between a loading and an operatingposition, the cartridge tray having a bottom plate, a side wall, and acartridge keying structure extending between the bottom plate and theside wall wherein the keying structure includes a substantially planarkeying surface which intersects the bottom plate at a predeterminedangle; means biasing said cartridge tray toward the loading position;means for releasably locking said cartridge tray in the operatingposition; a memory cartridge for operation with said main control unitand being adapted to be slideably inserted into said cartridge tray in adirection parallel to the bottom plate at said second end when saidcartridge tray is in its loading position, said memory cartridgeincluding a case having top and bottom surfaces and a printed circuitboard mounted therein having exposed edge terminals at one end of saidcase, said bottom surface having a recess therein at an end of saidopposite the exposed edge terminals, a side surface intersecting saidtop surface, and said memory cartridge further having a keyed surfaceintersecting the side and bottom surfaces and cooperating with saidkeying structure to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge insaid cartridge tray, the keying surface including a substantially planarchamfered surface which intersects the bottom surface at saidpredetermined angle; and security means for preventing the use of anunauthorized cartridge in said main unit, said security means includinga protrusion extending upward from said frame member and positioned suchthat as said cartridge tray is rotated toward the operating position,said protrusion entering said recess on said cartridge and allowing saidcartridge tray to assume the operating position, said security meansfurther including substantially identical first and second dataprocessing devices respectively mounted in said memory cartridge andsaid main control unit for executing the same predeterminedauthenticating program to determine authenticity of said cartridge, andcontrol means responsive to at least one of said first and second dataprocessing devices for disabling operation of said main control unit inaccordance with said authenticating program.
 10. A memory cartridge foran electronic programable gaming apparatus of the type having acartridge receiving front loading apparatus, said memory cartridgecomprising:a printed circuit board; a relatively flat cartridge casecontaining said printed circuit board and being adapted for slideableendwise insertion into and connection with a front loading apparatus,and having a connection end, a manually grippable end opposite saidconnection end, and top and bottom surfaces lying in substantiallyparallel planes and joining said connection end and grippable end, andfurther having first and second side surfaces joining said top andbottom surfaces, at least one of said side surfaces having a keyedsurface adapted for cooperating with a front loading apparatus toprevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge therein, and said printedcircuit board having a plurality of edge contacts that are substantiallycentered between said top and bottom surfaces and between said first andsecond side surfaces at said connection end so that but for said keyedsurface, said cartridge and said printed circuit board therein, wheninverted, would be connectable to a front loading apparatus; gaming datamemory means mounted on said printed circuit board for generating datathat is adapted to be communicated to the electronic gaming unit viaconnection therewith at said plurality of edge contacts; and dataprocessing means mounted in said cartridge for executing a predetermineddata processing program that determines authenticity of said cartridgewhen loaded into a front loading apparatus.
 11. The memory cartridge ofclaim 10 further comprising a manually engageable recess at saidgrippable end of said case, said recess intersecting at least saidbottom surface of said case and being adapted for cooperating with aregistering protrusion on the front loading apparatus during loading ofsaid cartridge to further determine authenticity of said cartridge. 12.The memory cartridge of claim 11, wherein said recess on said bottomsurface of said case is sized to form a manually grippable end portionof reduced thickness between said top and bottom surfaces.
 13. Thecartridge of claim 11, wherein said data processing means comprises amicroprocessor and a memory storing said predetermined data processingprogram.
 14. A memory cartridge receivable in a front loading apparatusof an electronic programable gaming system, said memory cartridgecomprising:a printed circuit board; a relatively flat cartridge casecontaining said printed circuit board and being adapted for slideableendwise insertion into and connection with a front loading apparatus,and having a connection end, a manually grippable end opposite saidconnection end, and top and bottom surfaces lying in substantiallyparallel planes and joining said connection end and grippable end, andfurther having first and second side surfaces joining said top andbottom surfaces, at least one of said side surfaces having a keyedsurface adapted for cooperating with a front loading apparatus toprevent an inverted insertion of the cartridge therein, and said printedcircuit board having a plurality of edge contacts that are substantiallycentered between said top and bottom surfaces and between said first andsecond side surfaces at said connection end so that but for said keyedsurface, said cartridge and said printed circuit board therein wheninverted, would be connectable to a front loading apparatus; game datamemory means mounted on said printed circuit board for generating datathat is adapted to be communicated to the electronic gaming unit viaconnection therewith at said plurality of edge contacts; and saidcartridge case having a recess at the manually grippable end adapted forcooperating with a protrusion on a front loading apparatus thatdetermines authenticity of said cartridge when loading.
 15. Thecartridge of claim 14, wherein said recess on said cartridge case islocated and sized so as to form a cartridge end portion of reducedthickness suitable for manually gripping during cartridge loading andunloading.
 16. The cartridge of claim 14, wherein said keyed surface isa substantially planar chamfered surface which intersects the bottomsurface and at a predetermined angle and extends lengthwise along saidone of said surfaces from the connection end and toward the grippableend.
 17. A memory cartridge for an electronic gaming unit having acartridge tray pivotally mounted therein for rotation within apredetermined angular range between a cartridge loading position and acartridge operating position, the tray including a bottom plate, saidwalls having offset portions, a cartridge keying structure extendingbetween the bottom plate and one of the side walls, a low insertionforce edge connector mounted near an end of the tray and a securitymeans disposed within the gaming unit adjacent the tray to prevent theuse of an unauthorized cartridge in the gaming unit, the security meansincluding an upwardly extending protrusion, the cartridge comprising:acase adapted to be slideably inserted into the tray and having top andbottom surfaces and side surfaces intersecting the top surface, aninsertion end having an elongated opening therein and adapted tocooperate with the edge connector, a keyed surface intersecting one sidesurface and the bottom surface and adapted to cooperate with the keyingstructure in the tray to prevent an inverted insertion of the cartridgein the tray, the bottom surface of the case including a recess disposedadjacent an end of the cartridge case opposite the insertion end andhaving a sufficient depth to accommodate the protrusion on the gamingunit when the tray is rotated into the operating position; a printedcircuit board mounted within the case and having an insertion edgepositioned within said opening at the insertion end of the case midwaybetween the top and bottom surfaces and centered between the sidesurfaces, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along theinsertion edge and adapted for electrical interconnection with the edgeconnector; and game data memory means mounted in said cartridge forgenerating data to be communicated to the gaming unit through theelectrical contacts and the edge connector.
 18. The memory cartridge ofclaim 17 wherein the cartridge keying structure of the gaming unitincludes a bar having a substantially planar keying surface whichintersects the bottom plate at a predetermined angle, and wherein saidkeyed surface of said cartridge case includes a substantially planarchamfered surface which intersects the bottom surface of the cartridgeat the same predetermined angle.
 19. The memory cartridge of claim 17wherein said recess in the bottom surface of said cartridge case extendsinto an end surface opposite said insertion end and includes grippingmeans to facilitate removal of the cartridge from the tray.
 20. Thememory cartridge of claim 17 wherein said side surfaces include anoffset section adjacent the insertion end which cooperate with theoffset portions of the side walls of the tray to limit the insertion ofthe cartridge into the tray.
 21. A memory cartridge for an electronicgaming unit of the type having a cartridge tray pivotally mountedtherein for rotation within a predetermined angular range between acartridge loading position and a cartridge operating position, the trayincluding a bottom plate, a side wall having an offset portion, acartridge keying structure extending between the bottom plate and theside wall, the keying structure including a bar having a substantiallyplanar keying surface which intersects the bottom plate at apredetermined angle, a low insertion force edge connector mounted nearan end of the tray and security means disposed within the gaming unitadjacent the tray to prevent the use of an unauthorized cartridge in themain unit, the security means including an upwardly extendingcylindrical protrusion, the cartridge comprising:a case adapted to beslideably inserted into the tray and having top, bottom and sidesurfaces, one side surface intersecting the top surface and including anoffset section which cooperates with the offset portion of the side wallof the tray to limit the insertion of the cartridge into the tray, aninsertion end of said case having an elongated opening therein andadapted to engagably receive the edge connector, said case having akeyed surface intersecting the side and bottom surfaces and cooperatingwith the keying structure in the tray to prevent an inverted insertionof the cartridge in the tray wherein the case keyed surface includes asubstantially planar chamfer which intersects the bottom surface at saidpredetermined angle, the bottom surface including a recess disposedadjacent and extending into an end of the cartridge case opposite saidinsertion end, said recess including gripping means to facilitateremoval of the cartridge from the tray and having a sufficient depth toaccommodate the security means protrusion when the tray is rotated intothe operating position; a printed circuit board mounted within thecartridge case and having an insertion edge positioned within saidopening at the insertion end of the case midway between the top andbottom surfaces, a plurality of electrical contacts disposed along theinsertion edge and adapted for electrical interconnection with the edgeconnector; and game data memory means mounted on the circuit board forgenerating data to be communicated to the game machine through theelectrical contacts and the edge connector.
 22. The memory cartridge ofclaim 21, further comprising data processing means mounted in saidcartridge for executing a predetermined data processing program insynchronism with a like data processing means in the gaming unit thatdetermines authenticity of said cartridge when loaded into the gamingunit. .Iadd.
 23. Video game apparatus comprising:a frame structure; acartridge tray having a first end and a second end, said first end beingpivotally mounted to said frame structure for rotation of said secondend of said cartridge tray between an upper cartridge loading positionand a lower cartridge operating position, said cartridge tray includinga bottom plate, two side walls and two wedge shaped structures extendingbetween the bottom plate and each of said side walls; a low insertionforce connector fixedly mounted at said first end of said cartridgetray, such that said cartridge tray rotates relative to said lowinsertion force connector, said low insertion force connectorincluding:a housing having an inner wall forming an elongated openingleading to a recess within said housing, said elongated opening beingsized and located to receive the edge of a printed circuit board carriedby a memory cartridge when said cartridge tray is in said upper loadingposition, a first plurality of resilient electrodes, each disposedwithin said recess and having a first upper contact spaced from theinner wall of the recess and positioned to be in contact with anassociated first electrode of said printed circuit board when it is insaid operating position, and a second plurality of resilient electrodeseach disposed within said recess, but offset from said first pluralityof resilient electrodes so as to be disposed closer to the elongatedopening than said first plurality of resilient electrodes; and a memorycartridge including a printed circuit board having a ROM mounted thereonstoring a game program, said printed circuit board being housed in amemory cartridge case having an open insertion end within which aninsertion end of said printed circuit board is disposed and visible;said printed circuit board insertion end having conductive patternsdisposed thereon for insertion into said low insertion force connectorwhen said cartridge tray is in said upper loading position, said memorycartridge being configured to be slideably inserted from the upwardlylocated second end of said cartridge tray towards the first end of thetray adjacent said low insertion force connector, said memory cartridgecase being configured to cooperate with said wedge shaped structure suchthat it can not be inserted in an inverted fashion into said lowerinsertion force connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. Apparatus according toclaim 23, further comprising a double edge connector, wherein said lowinsertion force connector is disposed at one end of said double edgeconnector, said double edge connector having a generally U-shapedcross-section and including a further edge connector array of electricalcontacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. Apparatus according to claim 24, furthercomprising an additional printed circuit board having a microprocessormounted thereon for executing said video game program and havingconductive patterns disposed thereon coupled to connecting electrodesformed on an edge portion of the additional printed circuit board, saidadditional printed circuit board being coupled to said further edgeconnector array of electrical contacts. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. Apparatusaccording to claim 23, wherein said memory cartridge includes a casehaving a slit formed to surround said printed circuit board insertionend. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein saidslit is sized to receive said low insertion force connector, whereby inuse the slit surrounds the low insertion force connector such that theedge of said memory cartridge printed circuit board is coupled to saidfirst plurality of resilient electrodes and said second plurality ofresilient electrodes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. Video game apparatuscomprising: a removable video game memory cartridge having a video gamecomputer program stored in a ROM included on a memory cartridge printedcircuit board and connected with conductive patterns to connectingelectrodes disposed transversely to an exposed edge of the printedcircuit board at one end of the cartridge, a video game base unitincluding: a printed circuit control board carrying a microcomputer forexecuting said video game computer program and connected with conductivepatterns to connecting electrodes disposed transversely to an edgethereof; a double edge connector having a generally U-shapedcross-section with one end thereof including a first edge connectorarray of contacts disposed in electrical contact and frictionalengagement with the connecting electrodes of the printed circuit controlboard and with the other end thereof including a low-insertion forcesecond edge connector array of upper and lower cantilevered contactsoffset from one another and capable of accepting the exposed edge of theprinted circuit program board at lower insertion force when tiltedupwardly while also being capable of effecting firm electricalconnection thereto when the circuit program board is rotated downwardlyto a horizontal position; a first frame fixed with respect to saiddouble edge connector, a second frame rotatably disposed with respect tosaid first frame and having an opened sized to accept, in a upwardlyrotated loading positioned, an inserted end of said game cartridge inone orientation and configured to prevent an inverted insertion of saidgame cartridge and having its exposed edge printed circuit boardinserted into and between the cantilevered conductors of the second edgeconnector array, whereupon by rotation of the second frame downwardlywithin the first frame, the printed circuit board in the cartridgebecomes firmly electrically connected to said base unit control boardvia said double edge connector. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. Apparatus as inclaim 28 wherein an upper end of said double edge connector includes ahousing having an opening an outer surface which is angled obliquelyupwardly and sized to fit within the open end of a video game cartridgewhile an exposed end of the cartridge printed circuit boardsimultaneously slides within the opening of the edge connector housing..Iaddend. .Iadd.30. Apparatus as in claim 28 further comprising a stopmember on the edge connector housing to limit the intersection of theedge connector and video game cartridge to a predetermined positionwhere at edge connecting electrodes on the cartridge printed circuitboard are positioned for locking engagement with the cantilevered edgeconnector contacts when the cartridge is thereafter rotated to itslowermost position within the base unit. .Iaddend. .Iadd.31. Apparatusaccording to claim 28, wherein said memory cartridge includes a casehaving a slit formed to surround said exposed edge of said memorycartridge printed circuit board. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. Apparatus accordingto claim 31, wherein said slit is sized to receive said low insertionforce connector, whereby in use the slit surrounds the lower insertionforce connector array such that the connecting electrodes of said memorycartridge printed circuit board is coupled to said upper and lowercantilevered contacts. .Iaddend.